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authorLeon Rische <leon.rische@me.com>2020-07-16 00:50:37 +0200
committerLeon Rische <leon.rische@me.com>2020-07-16 00:50:37 +0200
commit810d52f12fd58020530478a9bccc066e10549839 (patch)
tree69e9b9773c13ec6e1085da23bdc0c17e977e9bdc
parentb7d401bfd00c3bc41798ba4b8bbf6d87eb69bde5 (diff)
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+Org Flashcards
+==============
+
+Spaced-repetition system for use with Emacs org-mode.
+
+![Review Demo](images/review.png)
+
+Org-fc has been tested with org-mode version 9.3.6 and gawk version
+5.1.0. You can check your versions with `M-x org-version` and `gawk -V`.
+
+Introduction
+------------
+
+In the most abstract sense, this package deals with
+
+1. Attaching timestamped review information to headlines
+2. Querying all headings where reviews are due
+3. Reviewing due **positions** of headings
+
+As mentioned in step 3, a heading can have multiple **positions**, e.g.
+to implement cloze-deletions where multiple items are reviewed
+independently from each other.
+
+In the reviewing step, display functions can be registered by card type.
+This allows easy addition of user-defined card types without having to
+think about storing and updating review data.
+
+Review functions are called with point on the headline of the card that
+should be reviewed and get passed a single argument, the position to be
+reviewed.
+
+They are expected to return either `'quit` to end the review or one of
+`'again`, `'hard`, `'good`, `'ease`, to rate the card.
+
+See also:
+
+- [Alternative Applications](doc/alternative_applications.org)
+- [Incremental Reading](doc/incremental_reading.org) (todo)
+
+Design Goals / Choices
+----------------------
+
+1. Use of `awk` for quickly finding cards due for review
+2. Support for multiple **positions** in a card / heading
+3. All relevant data kept in org files for easy version control
+4. Review directly on the source org file for easy editing of cards
+ during review
+
+See [Design Choices](doc/design_choices.org) for more information.
+
+Prior Art
+---------
+
+There are a few other packages for implementing a SRS based on org-mode.
+
+Below, I\'ve listed a the ones I\'ve found so far that are actively
+maintained and implement a lot of useful functionality.
+
+- [phillord/org-drill](https://gitlab.com/phillord/org-drill/)
+- [abo-abo/pamparam](https://github.com/abo-abo/pamparam)
+
+Other (open source) flashcard / spaced repetition software:
+
+- [Anki](https://apps.ankiweb.net/)
+- [Mnemosyne Project](https://mnemosyne-proj.org/)
+
+Thanks to the maintainers and all contributors for their work on these
+packages!
+
+Performance
+-----------
+
+All user-facing commands (especially during review) should be as fast as
+possible (\<300ms).
+
+Using the `awk` indexer, searching 2500 org files (\~200k lines in
+total) for due flashcards takes around \~500ms on my laptop (Thinkpad
+L470, SSD).
+
+Using the lisp indexer based on `org-map-entries`, searching a single
+6500 line file with 333 flashcards takes \~1000ms, indexing the same
+file with `awk` takes around \~50ms.
+
+Getting Started
+---------------
+
+Before using this package, `org-fc-directories` should be set to the
+directory to search for org files containing flashcards.
+
+The file used to store the review history can be customized with
+`org-fc-review-history-file` and defaults to
+`/path/to/config/org-fc-reviews.tsv`.
+
+This package is not (yet) available on MELPA / ELPA, to install it,
+clone the repository (e.g. to `src/org-fc/`) and follow the setup
+instructions.
+
+### Dependencies
+
+- The `gawk` extension of `awk` for extracting review data from `.org`
+ files
+- `find` for finding all org files in the `org-fc-directories`
+- `xargs` for processing files in parallel
+
+1. Linux / UNIX
+
+ `find` and `xargs` should be included in most distributions, `gawk`
+ can be installed from source or using your package manager of
+ choice.
+
+ Examples:
+
+ - `pacman -S gawk` (Arch Linux)
+ - `apt-get install gawk` (Ubuntu, Debian, ...)
+ - `yum install gawk` (CentOS)
+
+ For more information, see [gawk manual -
+ Installation](https://www.gnu.org/software/gawk/manual/html_node/Installation.html).
+
+2. MacOS
+
+ On MacOS all dependencies can be installed using
+ [macports](https://www.macports.org/) or
+ [homebrew](https://brew.sh/). `find` and `xargs` are part of the
+ `findutils` package.
+
+ - `port install gawk findutils`
+ - `brew install gawk findutils`
+
+ You might have to adjust your `$PATH` to make sure Emacs can find
+ all relevant binaries.
+
+ ``` {.bash}
+ export PATH="/opt/local/libexec/gnubin:/opt/local/bin:$PATH"
+ ```
+
+ For more information, refer to the documentation of macports /
+ homebrew.
+
+### Setup with [use-package](https://github.com/jwiegley/use-package/)
+
+``` {.commonlisp org-language="emacs-lisp"}
+(use-package hydra)
+(use-package org-fc
+ :load-path "~/src/org-fc"
+ :custom (org-fc-directories '("~/org/"))
+ :config
+ (require 'org-fc-hydra))
+```
+
+Or, using [straight.el](https://github.com/raxod502/straight.el/):
+
+``` {.commonlisp org-language="emacs-lisp"}
+(use-package hydra)
+(use-package org-fc
+ :straight
+ (org-fc
+ :type git :host github :repo "l3kn/org-fc"
+ :files (:defaults "awk" "demo.org"))
+ :custom
+ (org-fc-directories '("~/org/"))
+ :config
+ (require 'org-fc-hydra))
+```
+
+Note that in this case, you don\'t have to clone the repository.
+
+### Setup with [straight.el](https://github.com/raxod502/straight.el/)
+
+``` {.commonlisp org-language="emacs-lisp"}
+(straight-use-package 'hydra)
+(straight-use-package
+ '(org-fc
+ :type git :host github :repo "l3kn/org-fc"
+ :files (:defaults "awk" "demo.org")
+ :custom (org-fc-directories '("~/org/"))
+ :config
+ (require 'org-fc-hydra)))
+```
+
+### Setup with [spacemacs](https://github.com/syl20bnr/spacemacs/)
+
+You don\'t need to manually clone the repository, just put this in your
+`.spacemacs`:
+
+``` {.commonlisp org-language="emacs-lisp"}
+;; ...
+dotspacemacs-additional-packages
+'((org-fc
+ :location (recipe :fetcher github
+ :repo "l3kn/org-fc"
+ :files (:defaults "awk" "demo.org"))))
+;; ...
+(defun dotspacemacs/user-config ()
+ ;; ...
+ ;; Org-fc
+ (use-package hydra)
+ (require 'org-fc-hydra)
+ (setq org-fc-directories '("~/org/"))
+ ;; ...
+ )
+```
+
+### Minimal Setup
+
+Assuming [abo-abo/hydra](https://github.com/abo-abo/hydra) is already
+loaded.
+
+``` {.commonlisp org-language="emacs-lisp"}
+(add-to-list 'load-path "~/src/org-fc/")
+(setq org-fc-directories '("~/org/"))
+```
+
+### Demo Mode
+
+A file demonstrating all card types is included. `M-x org-fc-demo`
+starts a review of this file.
+
+Card Types
+----------
+
+This package comes with a few predefined card types. They are documented
+in [Card Types](doc/card_types.org).
+
+[demo.org](demo.org) includes examples for each of these types.
+
+Marking Headlines as Cards
+--------------------------
+
+A **card** is an org-mode headline with a `:fc:` tag attached to it.
+Each card can have multiple **positions** reviewed independently from
+each other, e.g. one for each hole of a cloze card.
+
+Review data (ease, interval in days, box, due date) is stored in a table
+in a drawer inside the card.
+
+``` {.org}
+:REVIEW_DATA:
+| position | ease | box | interval | due |
+|----------+------+-----+----------+------------------------|
+| 2 | 2.65 | 6 | 107.13 | 2020-04-07T01:01:00 |
+| 1 | 2.65 | 6 | 128.19 | 2020-04-29T06:44:00 |
+| 0 | 2.95 | 6 | 131.57 | 2020-04-30T18:03:00 |
+:END:
+```
+
+Review results are appended to a csv file to avoid cluttering the org
+files.
+
+Each card needs at least two properties, an **unique** `:ID:` and a
+`:FC_TYPE:`. In addition to that, the date a card was created (i.e. the
+headline was marked as a flashcard) is stored to allow making statistics
+for how many cards were created in the last day / week / month.
+
+``` {.org}
+:PROPERTIES:
+:ID: 4ffe66a7-7b5c-4811-bd3e-02b5c0862f55
+:FC_TYPE: normal
+:FC_CREATED: 2019-10-11T14:08:32
+:END:
+```
+
+Card types (should) implement a `org-fc-type-...-init` command that
+initializes these properties and sets up the review data drawer
+
+All timestamps created and used by org-flashcards use ISO8601 format
+with second precision and without a timezone (timezone UTC0).
+
+This prevents flashcard due dates from showing up in the org-agenda and
+allows filtering for due cards by string-comparing a timestamp with one
+of the current time.
+
+(Un)suspending Cards
+--------------------
+
+Cards can be suspended (excluded from review) by adding a `suspended`
+tag, either by hand or using the `org-fc-suspend-card` command.
+
+The `suspended` tag is inherited, so all cards in a subtree can be
+suspended by adding the tag to the parent heading, and all cards in a
+file can be suspended by adding `#+FILETAGS: suspended` at the start.
+
+Cards can be unsuspended using the `org-fc-unsuspend-card` command or by
+manually removing the `suspended` tag.
+
+It might be preferable to suspend multiple cards by adding the
+`suspended` tag to each one, so they remain suspended when moved to
+another headline or file.
+
+In this case, you can use the following commands:
+
+- `org-fc-suspend-tree`, `org-fc-unsuspend-tree` for suspending all
+ cards in a subtree
+- `org-fc-suspend-buffer`, `org-fc-unsuspend-buffer` for suspending
+ all cards in the current buffer
+
+Note that these commands don\'t affect filetags or tags of parent
+headlines.
+
+Spacing Algorithm
+-----------------
+
+This package uses a modified version of the SM2 spacing algorithm, based
+on the one used by Anki.
+
+See also:
+
+- [Custom Spacing Algorithms](doc/custom_spacing_algorithms.org)
+ (todo)
+- [Anki Manual -
+ Algorithm](https://apps.ankiweb.net/docs/manual.html#what-algorithm)
+- [SuperMemo - SM2
+ Algorithm](https://www.supermemo.com/en/archives1990-2015/english/ol/sm2)
+
+Review
+------
+
+A review session can be started with `M-x org-fc-review`. Due cards are
+reviewed in random order.
+
+If a card was rated \"again\", it will be reviewed again at the end of
+the current review session. This can be disabled by setting
+`org-fc-append-failed-cards` to `nil`.
+
+### Review Process
+
+1. Open file of card
+2. Narrow to heading
+3. Set up card for review
+4. Activate `org-fc-flip-mode`
+5. Flip the card (user)
+6. Switch to `org-fc-rate-mode`
+7. Rate the card (user)
+8. Repeat process with next due card
+
+### Flip Mode
+
+ Key Binding
+ ----- --------------------------
+ RET flip card
+ n flip card
+ s suspend card
+ p pause review for editing
+ q quit review
+
+### Rate Mode
+
+ Key Binding
+ ----- --------------------------
+ a rate again
+ h rate hard
+ g rate good
+ e rate easy
+ s suspend card
+ p pause review for editing
+ q quit review
+
+### See Also
+
+- [Review Internals](doc/review_internals.org)
+- [Review History](doc/review_history.org)
+
+Use with `evil-mode`
+--------------------
+
+The key bindings used by the review modes of org-fc conflict with some
+of the bindings used by evil mode.
+
+As a workaround, you can add minor mode keymaps for each of the
+evil-mode states you\'re using org-fc with.
+
+``` {.commonlisp org-language="emacs-lisp"}
+(evil-define-minor-mode-key '(normal insert emacs) 'org-fc-review-flip-mode
+ (kbd "RET") 'org-fc-review-flip
+ (kbd "n") 'org-fc-review-flip
+ (kbd "s") 'org-fc-review-suspend-card
+ (kbd "q") 'org-fc-review-quit)
+
+(evil-define-minor-mode-key '(normal insert emacs) 'org-fc-review-rate-mode
+ (kbd "a") 'org-fc-review-rate-again
+ (kbd "h") 'org-fc-review-rate-hard
+ (kbd "g") 'org-fc-review-rate-good
+ (kbd "e") 'org-fc-review-rate-easy
+ (kbd "s") 'org-fc-review-suspend-card
+ (kbd "q") 'org-fc-review-quit)
+```
+
+Review Contexts
+---------------
+
+By default, two contexts are defined:
+
+all
+: all cards in `org-fc-directories`
+
+buffer
+: all cards in the current buffer
+
+New contexts can be defined by adding them to the alist
+`org-fc-custom-contexts`.
+
+Contexts have the form `(:paths paths :filter filter)`.
+
+- `:paths` (optional) either a list of paths, a single path or
+ `'buffer` for the current buffer. Paths don\'t have to be included
+ in the `org-fc-directories`. Defaults to `org-fc-directories`.
+- `:filter` (optional), a card filter defaulting to a filter that
+ matches all cards.
+
+Filters can be combinations of the following expressions:
+
+- `(and ex1 ex2 ...)`
+- `(or ex1 ex2 ...)`
+- `(not ex)`
+- `(tag "tag")`
+- `(type card-type) or (type "card-type")`
+
+### Examples
+
+All double cards with tag \"math\":
+
+``` {.commonlisp org-language="emacs-lisp"}
+(add-to-list 'org-fc-custom-contexts
+ '(double-math-cards . (:filter (and (type double) (tag "math")))))
+```
+
+All cards in that don\'t have one of the tags \"foo\" and \"bar\":
+
+``` {.commonlisp org-language="emacs-lisp"}
+(add-to-list 'org-fc-custom-contexts
+ '(no-foo-bar-cards . (:filter (not (or (tag "foo") (tag "bar"))))))
+```
+
+All cards in `~/combinatorics/` or `~/number_theory.org`:
+
+``` {.commonlisp org-language="emacs-lisp"}
+(add-to-list 'org-fc-custom-contexts
+ '(math-cards . (:paths ("~/combinatorics/" "~/number_theory.org"))))
+```
+
+All cards in `~/combinatorics/` with tag \"theorem\":
+
+``` {.commonlisp org-language="emacs-lisp"}
+(add-to-list 'org-fc-custom-contexts
+ '(combinatorics-theorems .
+ (:paths "~/combinatorics/" :filter (tag "theorem"))))
+```
+
+All double cards in the current buffer:
+
+``` {.commonlisp org-language="emacs-lisp"}
+(add-to-list 'org-fc-custom-contexts
+ '(current-double .
+ (:paths buffer :filter (type double))))
+```
+
+### Note
+
+Because parsing of tags is done in AWK, tag filters don\'t work for tags
+defined in the `#+FILETAGS:` of a `#+SETUP_FILE:`.
+
+Dashboard / Statistics
+----------------------
+
+`org-fc-dashboard` shows a buffer with statistics for review performance
+and cards / card types.
+
+![](images/stats.png)
+
+Only cards with a box \>= `org-fc-stats-review-min-box` (default: 0) are
+included in the review statistics.
+
+Setting this to a higher value (e.g. 2) excludes the first few
+\"learning\" reviews of a card.
+
+See also:
+
+- [Review History](doc/review_history.org)
+- [Advanced Statistics](doc/advanced_statistics.org) (todo)
+
+Hooks
+-----
+
+- `org-fc-before-setup-hook` Runs before a card is set up for review
+- `org-fc-after-setup-hook` Runs after a card is set up for review
+- `org-fc-after-review-hook` Runs when the review ends / is quit
+
+Extensions
+----------
+
+Org-fc comes with a number of extensions that are not enabled by
+default.
+
+### `org-fc-audio`
+
+Can be enabled with `(require 'org-fc-audio)`.
+
+Adds audio attachments for cards that are played during review, either
+before or after a card is set up. (This distinction is relevant for
+text-input cards).
+
+Commands:
+
+- `org-fc-audio-set-before`
+- `org-fc-audio-set-after`
+
+### `org-fc-keymap-hint`
+
+Can be enabled with `(require 'org-fc-keymap-hint)`.
+
+Shows a list of available key bindings during the review, to recreate
+the look & feel of the previous hydra-based implementation.
+
+- `[RET] flip [q] quit [s] suspend-card`
+- `[a] rate-again [h] rate-hard [g] rate-good [e] rate-easy [s] suspend-card [q] quit`
+
+### `org-fc-hydra`
+
+[file:org-fc-hydra.el](org-fc-hydra.el) defines a hydra for accessing
+commonly used org-fc commands and for marking headlines as flashcards.
+
+It can be loaded and bound to a hotkey like this:
+
+``` {.commonlisp org-language="emacs-lisp"}
+(require 'org-fc-hydra)
+(global-set-key (kbd "C-c f") 'org-fc-hydra/body)
+```
+
+[Changelog](Changelog.org)
+--------------------------
+
+Other Documentation
+-------------------
+
+- [Internals](doc/internals.org)
+- [Sharing Decks](doc/sharing_decks.org) (todo)
+
+License
+-------
+
+Copyright © Leon Rische and contributors. Distributed under the GNU
+General Public License, Version 3